I’ll try to keep this concise. I’m hoping for advice in addition to AIBU?
I’m on a long holiday in a Latin American country, renting a long term apartment via AirBnB, I’m a digital nomad and spend a few months in each city. I had been here just getting to one month when this occurred.
early hours Friday morning my air conditioner stopped working - in 35/36 degree heat, AC is an essential. I took steps to try to cope in the heat (bought a fan and a tiny plug in AC which was enough for me to work next to - just). I’m pragmatic - sh*t happens. I tried to “fix” the AC myself (nothing major, cleaned the filter, etc) nothing worked - continued blowing hot air. Upon examining the part of the unit outside of the building, I noted it was rusted solid and the fins were turning to dust. Aka, not fixable by a layman. So I gave up and texted the host. I’ll give a concise timeline.
Friday evening, no reply
saturday morning, promises to send his friend “Carl” to examine the problem at 5pm Saturday. 5pm comes and goes. 8pm I text host “where’s Carl?” “Maybe tomorrow.”
sunday, nobody. I complain to AirBnB (who to this hour, at 7pm Tuesday haven’t replied to me despite 5 different messages).
monday, host assures me Carl is coming at 5pm. Carl doesn’t arrive. I send the host a detailed description of the issues and photos of the AC, and a video of what happens when I try to turn it on (blows hot air, grinding noise and causes the lights to flicker. Clearly unsafe.) I suggest that rather than sending his friend, “Carl” he might send an actual qualified repairman to fix it.
Tuesday morning (today) he again promised to send Carl, tells me that Carl thinks it’s the capacitor (?), and tells me Carl will need X amount from me to fix it. Now, the amount isn’t very high, but the inference that this is my liability is a problem. Plus, I don’t think it’s one part, it’s rusted solid and I’m surprised it ever worked at all. Anyway. I refuse to pay. Host says he’ll pay “this time” but has a threatening tone (along the lines of “this better not happen again”) I don’t want to sound like a wallflower, but I AM a lone woman in an unfamiliar country.
5pm comes, the time promised, Carl isn’t there. But I’ve reached my limit and booked another AirBnB. 5:30 when there’s no sign of Carl, I text the host and tell him I’m leaving. I lock up, throw the keys through the window (which, like many SA city houses, have bars on, aka nobody can climb in). I ensured the key wasn’t within arms reach because of course I don’t want anyone to break in.
ive told AirBnB - who still haven’t replied to my initial complaints from the weekend nor my follow ups on Monday and this morning - again it’s now 7pm here.
was I being U? Anyone dealt with a similar AirBnB situation?
the Airbnb page won’t let me totally cancel the booking (throws up an error request) though I can set a checkout date of today - I’ve done this twice, and the host has declined twice (without actually replying verbally).